What is Cicely?
Cicely is an herb with a delicate, anise-like flavor which complements a wide range of dishes. In addition to being flavorful, Cicely is also ornamental, and some gardeners include it in their flower gardens as a large decorative plant. Dried Cicely is available in some markets, especially the seeds, and it is also easy to grow at home. Since Cicely is very cold tolerant, it is an excellent choice for cooler regions. It does not do well in warm or extremely humid climates. The plant is also known as Myrrhis odorata, and is sometimes called garden or British myrrh. It is in the parsley family, along with a number of other plants which have the same slightly biting anise flavor. Like many of its relatives, Cicely is umbelliferous, with flowers forming large umbels of clustered blooms which sort of resemble umbrellas. The leaves of Cicely are feathery and fine, and when left unchecked the plant can grow to around three feet (one meter) in height.
